Constant tension elongated material handling mechanism



Dec. 19, 1950 v. A. AGREsTl 2,534,496

CONSTANT TENSION ELONGATED MATERIAL HANDLING IIECHANISI Filed latch 17,1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 @1 l 1 Cl.

j; Vmdmr Hams/"f I l l I al Il 20. W xd. www' Gtorneg Dec. 19, 1950 v.A. AGREsTl 2,534,496

. coNs'rNN'I` IENsIoN ELoNGA'rEn MATERIAL HANDLING macHANIsu Filed larch17, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snoentor Mwczwr. QPEST! Gttorneg v. A. AGREsTl2,534,496 CONSTANT TENSION ELONGATED MATERIAL HANDLING IIECHANISI Dec.19, 1950 s sheets-sneu' 3 Filed Hawk 17, 19418 :inventor VINCENT dHelms?? attorney Patented Dec. 19, 195@ saam CONSTANT TENSION ELONGATEDMATE- RIAL HANDLING MECHANISM Vincent A. Agtesti, Rochelle Park, N. J.,assigner to Howe Machinery Company, Inc., Passaic, N. J., a corporationoi' New Jersey Application March 17, 1948, Serial N0. 15,394

16 Claims. l

This invention relates to a mechanism for handling or treating elongatedmaterial, such handling involving the transfer of such material to orfrom a reel under substantially constant tension regardless of thediameter of the reel to or from which the material is transferred,respectively.

The invention has among its objects the provision of a novel,automatically actuated, mechanism which provides substantially constanttenl sion in elongated iiexible material being transferred to or from areel regardless of the diameter of the package of such material built upon or carried by the reel.

A further object of the invention, in one ernbodiment thereof, is theprovision of a simple, rugged, easily maintained apparatus of the type'indicated for reeling or winding up the elongated ilexible material,

These and further objects of the invention Will be more readily apparentin the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

It is frequently necessary in processing elongated tlexible materialsuch as textile threads, cords, synthetic iibers, fine wires, and thelike, to reel such material to form a compact package. It is desirableduring these operations, and in some cases it is necessary, that theelongated material be fed to the spool or bobbin under substantiallyconstant tension. Since the package of the material on the bobbinconstantly changes in diameter as the material is wound thereon, it isnecessary, where the reeling device is relied upon to providesubstantially constant tension in the span of the material adjacentthereto, to provide a drive for the reel or bobbin of the reeling devicewhich will provide a torque which varies in such manner that itcompensates for the varying radius of the package. Prior devices of thistype have been known, but they have been disadvantageous because oftheir complexity and unreliability.

The mechanism of the present invention provides an improved simplifieddrive for elongated ilexiblek material handling mechanism including abobbin or reel, said mechanism incorporating means to impose a variabletorque in a material winding direction on the material containing orholding means such as a reel or bobbin, and means responsive to changesin the total weight f the elongated flexible material present on thematerial containing means to change the effective torque so transmittedthereto so that the tension in the elongated material in the spanthereof adjacent to the material containing means is main- 2 tainedsubstantially constant. Although in the embodimentdescribed andillustrated the invention is applied to a winding spindle, it is to beunderstood that withinits broader aspects, the invention is also capableof use on an unwinding spindle, In such latter application the variabletorque driving means is employed to impose a variable restraining torqueon the supply spindle from which the material is being paid out, therestraining means, the outer rotor in the clutch as shown below, beingdriven in a direction opposite to that in which the supply spindle isrotated by the material pulled therefrom. In the embodiment presently tobe described, however, the variable torque driving means, the outerrotor, rotates in the winding direction and impels the winding means ina, material winding direction.

In the embodiment shown, the mechanism of the invention is embodied in adouble twist cabling spindle adapted for use in the machine describedand illustrated in the prior United States patent application of HenryC. Uhlig, Serial No. 765,577, filed August 1, 1947 now Patent No.2,487,837 dated November 15, 1949. The apparatus shown herein isdesigned to replace the center cabling spindle shown specifically inFigs. 12, 13 and 14 in said Uhlig application. It is to be understood,however, that the invention is not limited to such use nor in itsbroader applications is it limited to a twisting spindle, since it maybe applied to advantage, as above explained, in winding and reelingapparatus generally. The invention will be more readily understood byreference to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a View inaxial vertical cross-section through the entire cabling spindle;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in vertical crosssection along the samesurfaces as that in Fig. 1, showing the mechanism in the vicinity of thevariable torque magnetic clutch, the section being taken along the lineII-II, in Fig. 3, and

Fig. 3 is a view in section through the spindle transverse to the axisof the spindle, the section being taken along the line III-III in Fig.2. y

In Fig. 1 there is shownk a sleeve member 2 which functions as thesupport for the spindle as a whole. Such sleeve has an outerl downwardlytapered surface 4 adapted to t Within a similarly shaped seat in theframe (not shown) of the machine which, as above stated, may begenerally like that of Uhlig. Sleeve 2 has within it at the bottom abearing seat 6 within which is positioned the ball bearing 8, and at thetop a bearing seat I0 in which is retained the upper ball bearing I2.Within such ball bearings there is rotatably mounted the elongateddriven shaft I4. Such shaft will hereafter be referred to as verticaland directions transverse thereto will be referred to as horizontal,although it is to be understood that the spindle as a whole in operativeposition is mounted at a small angle to the vertical, as for instance12, in the same manner as the center cabling spindle of Uhlig. Below thelower ball bearing 8, shaft I4 is provided with a stepped pulley, thelcwer portion I8 of which slightly exceeds the upper portion I8 indiameter, so that the speed at which the shaft I4 is rotated by the belt(not shown) from the prime mover may be varied by turning the steppedpulley end-for-end on the shaft. The pulley is retained on the shaft bymeans of the lower nut 20.

Above the upper ball bearing I2 and resting on the in'ner race thereofthere is a flange 22 integral with the shaft I4. Above such flange andflxedly positioned on the shaft to rotate therewith is the lower discmember 24 having a radial cordreceiving opening 26 extending from theouter edge thereof inwardly to the shaft, and a similar balancing bore28 opposite thereto. Shaft I4 is provided above disc 24 with a shoulder30 on which rests the inner race of the ball bearing 32, the outer raceof such bearing fitting within the depanding axial flange 38 on thesecond upper disc member which is generally designated 34, the radialmain body portion of the disc being designated 36. A second upper ballbearing 40 on the shaft I4 and resting on shoulder 42 within the upperaxial flange 38 on such disc completes the mounting for the disc 34 onthe shaft I4. Disc 34 is thus iloatingly mounted on shaft I4. Disc 34tends to remain in one angular position, when shaft I4 is positioned atan angle to the vertical, by reason of the weight .35 bolted to thebottom of portion 36 at one part thereof, as shown.

Above ball bearing 4|] shaft I4 is provided with a further shoulder 44on which rests a bell-shaped rotor 46 made of magnetic material, such assoft iron, the rotor having an outer upwardly converging conical face48. Rotor 46 is fixedly mounted for rotation with the shaft. Above suchrotor the shaft extends vertically to provide support for the bobbinsupporting member 54 which is iloatingly mounted therein. Such supportis provided by the shoulder 50 on the shaft, the lower ball bearing 52,the inner race of which rests on such shoulder 50, the shoulder 53 onthe lower inner surface of the axial tubular portion 56 of the bobbinsupport, and the upper ball bearing 60 resting on shoulder 58 on shaft14 and interposed between it and the upper inner surface of part 56 ofthe bobbin support. In order to allow vertical adjustment of the bobbinsupport 54 relative to the shaft I4 and thus relative to the rotor 46,to allow initial adiustment or calibration of the magnetic slip clutch,as will appear hereafter, there may be provided one or more annularshims 55 of suitable thickness between shoulder 53 on part 56 of thebobbin support and the outer race of ball bearing 52, the weight of thebobbin support being sustained by the shoulder 53, the shim or shims 55,and the' outer race of bearing 52. I

The upper portion of shaft I4 has a central bore 6I therein, connectedto the inner end of cord receiving bore 26 in disc 24 by a curvedpassageway 62 as shown. Disc 24 is retained on shaft I4 by means of thekey 63, the inner i respectively. Member 82 serves as a holder forv faceof which is concave in cross-section to present a cord guiding surfaceparallel in vertical section to part 62 of the bore in the shaft. Theextreme upper end of shaft I4 is threaded at 6-4 to receive nut 66 whichengages the inner race of bearing 60. A cord guiding extension 68, thebottom end of which fits within the top of the tubular portion 56 of thebobbin holder, is provided to guide the cord to the top of the spindlestructure.

The bobbin support 54 has at its lower end a generally radial flange 10,the outer edge of which is dished downwardly to provide a horizontalannular outer zone 1l. Ailixed to the bottom of such zone II is adepending annular member l2 made of a non-magnetic metalv such as brass,the annulus being attached to the flange by cap screws 14. Projectingradially inwardly from the top and bottom edges of annulus 12,respectively, are the two annular diaphragm spring members 'I6 and 18,respectively, which likewise are made of non-magnetic metal such asbrass or bronze. The outer edge of the upper one of such spring membersis attached, as shown, by being interposed between portion II of flange'l0 and annulus 12, and the bottom spring member is attached to theannulus by means of screws 80. The inner ends of such diaphragm springmembers are attached to an inner annular member 82, likewise made ofnon-magnetic material such as brass, by means of the screws 88 and 92,

the outer rotor member of the magnetic slip clutch. The outer rotormember is shown as including the annular magnet generally designated 84and having radially directed angularly spaced pole pieces 84 attachedintegrally thereto. The upper and lower annular clamping members 8 6 and90, held by screws 88 and 92, respectively, serve to hold the compositeouter rotor member in place.

The inner faces 86 of pole pieces 94 lie on a cone converging upwardly,the elements of which are parallel to those on face 48 of the innerrotor. As shown, such elements are disposed at a marked angle to thevertical, in the drawing such angle being shown as 30. By reason of suchangle, vertical movement of magnet 84 in response to increased weight ofthe bobbin and bobbin support, as a whole, decreases the air gap betweenthe inner and outer rotors of the clutch and thus increases the torquetransmitted through the clutch. The pole pieces 94 of magnet 84 are ofsubstantially uniform width, as shown in Fig. 4. Magnet 84 may be madeof various well known high permeability magnetic metals oi' which thatcomposed of an alloy of frame 24 to 30 percent nickel, 9 to 13 percentaluminum, balance iron; and the alloy composed of 24 to 30 percentnickel, 9-13 percent aluminum, 5-10 percent cobalt, balance iron, aretypical.

The shaft I4 carrying with it the rotor 46, rotates at a speed manytimes that of bobbin support 54 and thus the outer rotor of the clutch.Consequently, rotor 46 cuts the lines of force of the magnet 84 andthere are induced eddy currents in rotor 46 which in turn have their ownmagnetic field and cause a slipping magnetic coupling between the tworotor parts. The generation of eddy currents in the inner rotornaturally produces substantial amounts of heat, which are dissipated bya draft of air produced by fan attached to the upper edge of inner rotor46, air being drawn up through the air gap between the rotors and thespaces between pole pieces I4 and impelled outwardly through the seriesof openings |02 in the flange 10 of the bobbin holder.

The bobbin, generally designated |04, is preferably made of nonmagnetlcmetal. The bobbin has a substantially cylindrical inner core or hub |06.an upper flange |08, anda lower flange ||0. The opening through the core|06 is of such size that the bobbin is held accurately on the upper andlower larger diameter portions of part 66. but may slide freely alongsaid portions. The

bobbin is held against rotation on the bobbin` holder by engagement ofthe driving pin v I4 on the upper surface of flange 'Il into the openingl |2 in the lower flange of the bobbin.

The weight of the bobbin and of the elongated flexible material woundthereon is sustained by the non-magnetic supporting pins ||6, shown hereas three in number. equally spaced about the bobbin holder, pins ||6being freely slidable in vertical openings through flange 10. Pins ||6engage magnet 84 of the outer rotor at their bottom ends and the lowersurface of the bottom flange of the bobbin at their upper ends. Thus,when the empty bobbin is placed on the bobbin holder it will deflectdiaphragm springs 16 and 18 a known amount. since such springs arecalibrated and the weight of the various bobbins employed with thedevice is standardized. Thus, the winding operation will be begun with amaximum known air gap between clutch parts 46 and 84. and thus with aminimum predetermined winding torque imposed on the bobbin. The initialair gap under such conditions may be adjusted by providing.r shims 55 ofdesired thicknesses between ball bearing 50 and shoulder 58 on thebobbin holder. As the weight of the system composed of the bobbin and ofmaterial I increases, the outer rotor will be depressed to decrease theair gap between the rotors. When the bobbin is full there will exist theminimum air gap between the clutch rotors, and thus a maximum torquewill be transmitted through the clutch.

A suitable choice of diaphragm spring thick@ nesses and stiffnesses willcausethe torque transmitted through the clutch to vary substantially inaccordance with the increased weight of the bobbin and materialthroughout the range of the added weight of the material during awinding operation. Because the bobbin is cylindrical and becausesuccessive layers of the elongated material are Wound thereon so thateach such layer is of substantially constant radius, increased weight ofthe bobbin material |I| bears a constant relationship to theinstantaneous radius of the package upon which the material is beingwound. Thus, the variation of the torque through the clutch, by makingit responsive to changes in weight of the bobbin and material. resultsin winding the material upon the bobbin under substantially constanttension regardless of the diameter of the package.

Horizontal flange 86 of the floatingly mounted disc 84 provides supportfor the plurality of vertically extending parallel angularly spaced rods||8 which form a cage about the spindle structure. The tops of rods ||8are connected by the horizontally extending annulus |20, the outer edgeof which is rounded to serve as a guide for the incoming cord |52. Thecage structure is surrounded by a fixed cylindrical guard or can |66which is supported coaxial of the spindle on the frame of the machine bymeans not shown. Attached to ring |20 is an angularly disposed 8 guidearm |22, 4on which is positioned a top guide pulley |24 and a lowerguide pulley |26.

The mechanism so far described operates as follows: In the method andmachine described by Uhlig, the elongated material fed to the cablingspindle consists of two threads themselves twisted but, as yet,untwisted on each other. It will be assumed that cord |52 in this caseis of the same character, although it is obvious that use of theapparatus of the invention is not confined thereto. Cord |62 is feddownwardly over the outer edge of ring |20 and within can |58. passingdown and around the upwardly dished guard |64 which is secured to thebottom of flange 88. The cord then enters passage 26. In this portion ofits run, cord |62 is given one twist by reason of the rotation of disc24 relative to the fixed guide (not shown) from which the cord is fed tothe cabling spindle. The cord then passes upwardly through passageway 6I, through the upper guide member 68, and to the tcp guide pulley |24.In such second portion of its run the cord is given a further twist byreason of the rotation of disc 24 relative to the upper guide pulley|24. The cord is then fed downwardly to guide pulley |26 from which itpasses to the guide pulley |80 on the traversing support |28, and thenceto the package pulley |30 laying the material helically upon the bobbinin layers, the radius of each layer being constant.

The traverse mechanism is of a generally conventional type in which thesupport |26 is guided vertically on parallel rod |29, such rods beingconnected together and to the cage by bottom and top end members |36 and|88, respectively. A right and left threaded worm |84 Journalledvertically in the cage parallel to rods |28 coopcrates with aconventional swingably mounted nut member (not shown) mounted withinsupport |28 through which the worm extends. The traverse mechanism isprovided with conventional mechanism, also not shown, which reverses theposition of the nut when the support reaches the top and bottom ends ofits traverse, whereby continued rotation of the worm in one directionresults in reciprocating motion of support |28.

Worm |84 is rotated in timed relation to the rotation of the bobbin bymeans of the ratchet wheel |40 affixed to the lower end of the worm andthe pawl |42 carried on plate |58 pivotally mounted on the lower end ofthe worm. Plate |58 carries a vertical stud |60 cooperating with theforked forward end of lever |44 as shown in Fig. 3. Lever |44 ispivotally mounted on vertical pin |46.l Oscillation of the lever aboutits axis is effected by contact between cam lobe positioned on the outeredge of flange l0 and roller |48 on the rear end of the short arm oflever |44. Lever |44 is constantly urged in a counterclockwise (Fig. 3)direction by spring means (not shown). Thus, worm |34 is rotated oneincrement upon every passage of cam lobe |50 by roller |48 on lever |44,the oscillation of the lever causing consequent operation of pawl |42 inthe manner described.

When the mechanism has been initially adjusted and calibrated asdescribed, and when bobbins of substantially uniform weight are employedwith it, it will operate substantially free from attention for longperiods, automatically maintaining substantially uniform tension in thespan of flexible material approaching the spindle.

Although I have described and illustrated a preferred embodiment of themechanism for 7 handling or treating elongated material under constanttension in accordance with my invention. it is to be understood that theinvention is not confined to such described embodiment, since it iscapable. as indicated, of considerable variation as to its manner ofapplication and as to details of its construction.

I claim as new the following:

. 1. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, asubstantially vertical rotary shaft, driving means for such shaft, abobbin support mounted on and driven by the shaft, means to lay theelongated flexible material on a substantially cylindrical bobbinslidingly mounted for vertical movement on the bobbin support in aplurality of superimposed layers each of substantially constant radius,a variable torque slip clutch drivingly interposed between the shaft andthe bobbin support, said clutch comprising a driving part connected tothe shaft and a driven part connected to the bobbin support, such partsbeing magnetically coupled together and being of such configuration andso mounted that the air gap between them may be varied. the two partstogether constituting a magnetic system of substantially constantstrength, and means responsive to changes in the total weight of theelongated flexible material present on the bobbin to vary the air gapbetween said parts of the clutch thereby to vary the effective torquetransmitted by the clutch from the shaft to the Ybobbin support, tomaintain the tension in the material being wound substantially constant,said last named means comprising spring means connecting one of theaforesaid parts of the clutch to the respective member to which it isattached. and means to transmit the weight of the bobbin and thematerial wound thereon to the spring mounted part of the clutch.

2. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft. driving means for such shaft, a bobbin supportmounted on and driven by the shaft, means to lay the elongated flexiblematerial on a substantially cylindrical bobbin slidingly mounted forvertical movement on the bobbin support in a plurality of superimposedlayers each of substantially constant radius, a variable torque slipclutch drivingly interposed between the shaft and the bobbin support,said clutch comprising a first part connected to the shaft and a secondpart connected to the bobbin support, one of the parts being in the formof an annulus and the other in the form of a disc within the annulus,confronting faces of the parts being spaced by an air gap and lying oncones the elements of which are parallel, the two parts togetherconstituting a magnetic system of substantially constant strength, andmeans responsive to changes in the total weight of the elongatedflexible material present on the bobbin to vary the air gap between saidparts of the clutch thereby to vary the effective torque transmitted bythe clutch from the shaft to the bobbin support rto maintain the tensionin the material being wound substantially constant, said last namedmeans comprising spring means connecting one of the aforesaid parts ofthe clutch to the respective member to which it is attached. and meansto transmit the weight of the bobbin and the material wound thereon tothe spring mounted part of the clutch in such manner that as the weightof the material on the bobbin increases the air gap between clutch partsis decreased.

3. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft. driving means for such shaft. a bobbin supportfloatingly mounted on and indirectly driven by the shaft, means to laythe elongated exible material on a substantially cylindrical bobbinslidingly mounted for vertical movement on the bobbin support in aplurality of superimposed layers each of substantially constant radius.a variable torque slip clutch drivingly interposed between the shaft andthe bobbin support, said clutch comprising a flrst rotor in the form ofa disc of magnetic metal flxedly connected to the shaft coaxiallythereof, a second rotor in the form of an annular permanent magnetconnected to the bobbin support and surrounding the first rotor, the tworotors having conical confronting faces spaced from each other by anarrow upwardly converging conical air gap, and means responsive tochanges in the total weight of the elongated flexible material on thebobbin to vary the air gap between the rotors of the clutch thereby tovary the effective torque transmitted by the clutch from the shaft tothe bobbin support to maintain the tension in the material being woundsubstantially constant. said last named means comprising spring meansconnecting the second rotor to the bobbin support, and means to transmitthe weight of the bobbin and the material wound thereon vertically tothe second rotor, whereby as the weight of the material on the bobbinincreases the air gap between the rotors decreases.

4. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft. driving means for such shaft, a bobbin supportfloatingly mounted on and indirectly driven by the shaft, the bobbinsupport having a transverse bottom flange, means to lay the elongatedflexible material on a substantially cylindrical bobbin slidinglymounted for vertical movement on the bobbin support above the flange ina plurality of superimposed layers each of substantially constantradius, a variable torque slip clutch drivingly interposed between theshaft and the bobbin support, said clutch comprising a first rotor inthe form of a disc of magnetic metal flxedly connected to the shaftcoaxially thereof, a second rotor in the form of an annular permanentmagnet connected to the bobbin support parallel to and below the flangethereof and surrounding the first rotor, the two rotors having conicalconfronting faces spaced from each other by a narrow upwardly convergingconical air gap, and means responsive to changes in the total weight ofthe elongated flexible material on the bobbin to vary the air gapbetween the rotors of the clutch thereby to vary the effective torquetransmitted by the clutch from the shaft to the bobbin support tomaintain the tension in the material being wound substantially constant,said last named means comprising two vertically spaced parallel annularleaf springs connecting the second rotor to the flange on the bobbinsupport, and means to transmit the weight` located in magneticallycoupled relation' to theA first rotor, at least one of said rotorsincluding a magnet of substantially constant flux strength, the tworotors constituing a magnetic system of substantially constant fluxstrength, the two rotors having parallel conical confronting facesspaced by a narrow air gap, the second rotor being mounted for movementtoward and away from the first rotor to vary the degree of coupingbetween the rotors, and means for positioning the second rotor relativeto the first rotor, said last named means comprising a supportingstructure surrounding the second rotor and flxedly positioned on thedriven member, and spring means interposed between the supportingstructure and the second rotor, said spring means comprising at leastone annular spring member attached at its outer edge to the supportingstructure and at its inner edge to the second rotor, the spring meansstably supporting the second rotor of the clutch from said supportingstructure the spring means and the clutch rotors being so constructedand arranged that when the second rotor is thrust toward the first rotorwith a first predetermined force the clutch transmits a firstpredetermined torque and that when forces are added to the first forcethe clutch transmits other greater predetermined torques proportional tothe total applied force.

6. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft, driving means for such shalt, a bobbin supportmounted on and driven by the shaft, a bobbin mounted on the bobbinsupport, means to lay the elongated flexible material on the bobbin, avariable torque slip `clutch drivingly interposed between the shaft andthe bobbin support, said clutch comprising a driving part connected tothe shaft and a driven part connected to the bobbin support, such partsbeing magnetically coupled together and being of such configuration andso mounted that the air gap between them may be varied, the two partstogether constituting a magnetic system of substantially constantstrength, and means responsive to changes in the total weight of theelongated flexible material present on the bobbin to vary the air gapbetween said parts of the clutch thereby to vary the effective torquetransmitted by 'the clutch from the shaft to the bobbin support, saidlast named means comprising resilient means connecting one of thealoresaid parts of the clutch to the respective member to which itisattached, and means to transmit the weight ofthe bobbin and the materialwound thereon to the part of the clutch mounted on the resilient means.

7. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft, driving means for such shaft, a bobbin supportmounted on and driven by the shaft, the bobbin being slidablelongitudinally of the shaft, a bobbin mounted on the bobbin support,means to lay the elongated flexible material on the bobbin,

a variable torque slip clutch drlvingly interposed between the shaft andthe bobbin support, said clutch comprising a driving part connected tothe shaft and a driven part connected to the bobbin support, the drivenpart sustaining the weight of the bobbin, such parts being magneticallycoupled together and being of such configuration and so mounted that theair gap between them may be varied, the two parts together constitutinga magnetic system of substantially constant strength, and meansresponsive to changes in the total weight of -the elongated ilexiblematerial present on the bobbin to vary the air gap between said parts ofthe clutch thereby to vary the effective torque transmitted by theclutch from the shaft to the bobbin support, said last named meanscomprising resilient means connecting the driven part of the clutch tothe bobbin support, and means to transmit tne weight of the bobbin andthe material wound thereon to the part of rthe clutch mounted on theresilient mcall.

8. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material. a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft, driving means for such shaft, a bobbin supportmounted on and driven by the shaft, a bobbin, means slidingly to mountthe bobbin for vertical movement on the bobbin support, means to lay theelongated flexible material on the bobbin, a variable torque slip clutchdrivingly interposed between the shaft and tne bobbin support, saidclutcn comprising a driving part connected to the siiaft and a drivenpart connected to the bobbin support, such parts being magneticallycoupled together andbeing of such configuration and so mounted that tneair gap between them may be varied, the two parts together constitutinga magnetic system of substantially constant strength, and meansresponsive to changes in tne total weight of the elongated flexiblematerial present on the bobbin to vary the air gap between said partsor' the clutch thereby to vary the effective torque transmitted by theclutch`from the shait to the bobbin support, said last named meanscomprising resilient means connecting one of the aforesaid parts of theclutch to the respective member to which it is attached, and means totransmit the weight of tne bobbin and the material wound tnereon to thepart of the clutch mounted on the resilient means.

9. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft, driving means for such shaft, a bobbin supportmounted on and driven by the shaft, a bobbin, means slidingly to mountthe bobbin for vertical movement on the bobbin support, means to lay theelongated flexible material on tne bobbin, a variable torque slip clutchdrlvingly interposed between the shaft and the bobbin support, saidclutch comprising a first part connected to the shaft and a second partconnected to the bobbin support, one oi the parts being in the form ofan annulus and the other in the form of a disc within the annulus,confronting faces of the parts being spaced by an air gap and lying oncones the elements of which are parallel, the two parts togetnerconstituting a magnetic system of substantially constant strength, andmeans responsive to changes in the total weight of the elongatedflexible material present on the bobbin to vary the air gap between saidparts of the clutch thereby to vary the effective torque transmitted bythe clutch from the shaft to the bobbin support, said last named meanscomprising resilient means connecting one of the aforesaid parts of theclutch to the respective member to which it is attached, and means totransmit the weight of the bobbin and the material wound thereon to thepart of the clutch mounted on the resilient means in such manner that asthe weight of the material on the bobbin increases the air gap betweenthe clutch parts is decreased.

10. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft, driving means for such shaft, a bobbin supportmounted on and driven by the shaft, a bobbin, means slidingly to mountthe bobbin for vertical movement on the bobbin support, means to lay 11the elongated exible material on the bobbin, a variable torque slipclutch drivingly interposed between the shaft and the bobbin support,said clutch comprising a first part connected to the shaft and a secondpart in the form of an annulus connected to the bobbin support, thesecond part sustaining the weight of the bobbin, the first part being inthe form of a disc within the annulus, confronting faces of the partsbeing spaced by an air gap and lying on cones the apices of which lieupwardly and the elements of which are parallel, the two parts togetherconstituting a magnetic system of substantially constant strength, andmeans responsive to changes in the total weight of the elongatedflexible material present on the bobbin to vary the air gap between saidparts of the clutch thereby to vary the effective torque transmitted bythe clutch from the shaft to the'bobbin support, said last named meanscomprising resilient means connecting the second part of the clutch tothe bobbin support and means to transmit the weight of the bobbin andthe material wound thereon to the second part of the clutch in suchmanner that as the weight of the material on the bobbin increases theair gap between the clutch parts is decreased.

11. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft, driving means for such shaft, a bobbin suDDOrtmounted on and driven by the shaft, a bobbin, means slidingly to mountthe bobbin on the bobbin support for vertical movement with respectthereto, means to lay the elongated flexible material on the bobbin, avariable torque slip clutch drivingly interposed between the shaft andthe bobbin support, said clutch comprising a first rotor in the form ofa disc of magnetic metal fixedly connected to the shaft coaxiallythereof, a second rotor in the form of an annular permanent magnetconnected to the bobbin support and surrounding the first rotor, the tworotors having parallel conical confronting faces spaced from each otherby a narrow upwardly converging conical air gap, and means responsive tochanges in the total weight of the elongated flexible material on thebobbin to vary the air gap between the rotors of the clutch thereby tovary the effective torque transmitted by the clutch from the shaft tothe bobbin support, said last named means comprising resilient meansconnecting the second rotor to the bobbin support, and means to transmitthe weight of the bobbin and the material wound thereon vertically tothe second rotor, whereby as the weight of the material on the bobbinincreases the air gap between the rotors decreases.

12. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft, driving means for such shaft, a bobbin supportmounted on and driven by the shaft, said bobbin support having atransverse bottom flange thereon, a bobbin, means slidingly to mount thebobbin on the bobbin support for vertical movement with respect thereto,means to lay the elongated flexible material on the bobbin, a variabletorque slip clutch drivingly interposed between the shaft and the bobbinsupport, said clutch comprising a first rotor in the form of a disc ofmagnetic metal iixedly connected to the shaft coaxially thereof, asecond rotor in the form of an annular permanent magnet connected to thebobbin support parallel to and below the flange thereof and surroundingthe first rotor, the second rotor sustaining the weight of the bobbin,the two rotors having conical confronting faces spaced from each otherby a narrow upwardly converging conical air gap, and means responsive tochanges in the total weight of the elongated flexible material on thebobbin to vary the air gap between the rotors of the clutch thereby tovary the effective torque transmitted by the clutch on the shaft of thebobbin support, said last named means comprising at least one annularleaf spring stably connecting the second rotor to the flange on thebobbin support, and means to transmit the weight of the bobbin and thematerial wound thereon vertically to the second rotor, whereby as theweight of the material on the bobbin increases the air gap between therotors decreases.

13. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft, driving means for such shaft, a bobbin supportmounted on and driven by the shaft, said bobbin support having atransverse bottom flange thereon, a bobbin, means slidingly to mount thebobbin on the bobbin support for vertical movement with respect thereto,means to lay the elongated flexible material on the bobbin, a variabletorque slip clutch drivingly interposed between the shaft and the bobbinsupport, said clutch comprising a first rotor in the form of a disc ofmagnetic metal fixedly connected to the shaft coaxially thereof, asecond rotor in the form of an annular permanent magnet connected to thebobbin support parallel to and below the flange thereof and surroundingthe first rotor, the second rotor sustaining the weight of the bobbin,the two rotors having parallel conical confronting faces spaced fromeach other by a narrow upwardly converging conical air gap, and meansresponsive to changes in the total weight of the elongated flexiblematerial on the bobbin to vary the air gap between the rotors of theclutch thereby to vary the effective torque transmitted by the clutch onthe shaft to the bobbin support, said last named means comprising twovertically spaced parallel annular leaf springs stably connecting thesecond rotor to the flange on the bobbin support, and means to transmitthe weight of the bobbin and the material wound thereon vertically tothe second rotor, whereby as the weight of the material on the bobbinincreases the air gap between the rotors decreases.

14. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft. driving means for such shaft, a bobbin supportcoaxial with the shaft mounted on and driven by the shaft, said bobbinsupport having a transverse bottom ange thereon, a bobbin, meansslidingly to mount the bobbin on the bobbin support for verticalmovement with respect thereto, means keying the bobbin and bobbinsupport together to prevent relative rotation therebetween whileallowing the recited sliding movement therebetween, means to lay theelongated fiexible material on the bobbin, a variable torque slip clutchdrivingly interposed between the shaft and the bobbin support, saidclutch comprising a first rotor in the form of a disc of magnetic metalfixedly connected to the shaft coaxially thereof, a second rotor in theform of an annular permanent magnet connected to the bobbin supportparallel to and below the fiange thereof and surrounding the firstrotor, the second rotor sustaining the weight of the bobbin, the tworotors having conical confronting faces spaced from each other by anarrow upwardly converging conical air gap, and means responsive tochanges in the total weight of the elongated flexible material on thebobbin to vary the air gap between the rotors of the clutch thereby tovary the effective torque transmitted by the clutch on the shaft to thebobbin support, said last named means comprising two vertically spacedparallel annular leaf springs stably connecting the second rotor to theflange on the bobbin support,

and means to transmit the weight of the bobbin and the material woundthereon vertically to the second rotor, whereby as the weight of thematerial on the bobbin increases the air gap between the rotorsdecreases.

15. In a device for reeling elongated flexible material, a substantiallyvertical rotary shaft, driving means for such shaft, a bobbin supportcoaxial with the shaft, fioatingly mounted on, and indirectly driven by,the shaft, the bobbin support having a transverse bottom flange, abobbin, means slidingly to mount the bobbin on the bobbin support forvertical movement with respect thereto, means keying the bobbin andbobbin support together to prevent relative rotation therebetween whileallowing the recited sliding movement therebetween, means to lay theelongated flexible material cn the bobbin, a variable torque slip clutchdrivingly interposed between the shaft and the bobbin support, saidclutch comprising a first rotor in the form of a disc of magnetic metalfixedly connected to the shaft coaxially thereof, a second rotor in theform of an annular permanent magnet connected to the bobbin supportparallel to and below the flange thereof and surrounding the rst rotor,the second rotor sustaining the weight of the bobbin, the two rotorshaving parallel upwardly converging conical confronting faces spacedfrom each other by a narrow air gap, and means responsive to changes inthe total weight of the elongated flexible material on the bobbin tovary the air gap between the rotors of the clutch thereby to vary theeffective torque transmitted by the clutch from the shaft to the bobbinsupport, said last named means comprising two vertically spaced parallelannular leaf springs stably connecting the second rotor to the bobbinsupport, and means to transmit the weight of the bobbin and the materialwoundjthereon vertically to the second rotor, whereby as the weight ofthe material on the bobbin increases the air gap between the rotorsdecreases, said last named means comprising a plurality of pins parallelto the shaft, said pins being slidably mounted in the bottom flange ofthe bobbin support, angularly spaced about the shaft, and contacting thebottom surface of the bobbin with their upper ends and the top surfaceof the second rotor with their bottom ends.

16. A variable torque magnetic clutch for coupling together a drivingmember and a driven member. comprising a first, disc shaped, rotorflxedly positioned on the driving member, a second, annular, rotorsurrounding the first rotor, drivingly mounted on the driven member, andlocated in magnetically coupled relation to the first rotor, at leastone of said rotors including a magnet of substantially constant uxstrength, the two rotors constituting a magnetic system of substantiallyconstant flux strength, the two rotors having parallel conicalconfronting faces spaced by a narrow air gap, the second rotor beingmounted for movement toward and away from the rst 'rotor to vary thedegree of coupling between the rotors, and means for positioning thesecond rotor relative to the first rotor, said last named meanscomprising a supporting structure surrounding the second rotor andfixedly positioned on the driven member, and spring means interposedbetween the supporting structure and the second rotor, said spring meanscomprising two spaced parallel annular leaf springs attached at theirouter edges to the supporting structure and at their inner edges to thesecond rotor. the annular leaf springs stably supporting the secondrotor of the clutch from said supporting structure, the leaf springs andthe clutch rotors being so constructed and arranged that when the secondrotor is thrust toward the first rotor with a first predetermined forcethe clutch transmits a first predetermined torque and that when forcesare added to the first force the clutch transmits other greaterpredetermined torques proportional to the total applied force.

VINCENT A. AGRESTI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,383,953 James July 5, 19211,725,443 Clayton Aug. 20, 1929 1,862,267 Honig June '7, 1932 2,179,334Keyes Nov. '1. 1939 2,193,185 Winther et al Mar. 12, 1940 2,193,214Winther et al Mar. 12, 1940 2,461,033 Canady Feb. 8, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 301,928 Germany Mar. 2, 1917 Patent No.2,534,496

Certicate of Correction December 19, 1950 VINCENT A. AGRESTI v It ishereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of theabove numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 3, line 51, for the word therein read thereon; column 4, line 58,

for frame read from; column 6, line 33, for rod read rods; column 12,

line 8, for of the read to the;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read as corrected above, sothat the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oiice.Signed and sealed this 13th day of February, A. D. 1951.

rml-1 THOMAS F. MURPHY,

Assistant Commissioner of Patents.

